Study says Texas passes up millions for children's insurance

Study says Texas passes up millions for children's insurance
August 25, 2003

FORT WORTH, Texas- Texas has passed up a potential $618 million in federal Children's Health Insurance Program funding over the past six years because state lawmakers have consistently failed to meet the matching amount before deadlines.

The state is second only to California in passing up federal CHIP money, according to Families USA, a consumer health advocacy group that tracks federal health funding.

CHIP provides health insurance for children 18 and under from families who cannot afford private health insurance but make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. More than 500,000 Texas children are enrolled. (snip)

(snip) "The reason it's not a priority is because poor children don't make campaign contributions and poor children don't vote," said Coleman, a member of the House Public Health Committee. "This is not rocket science. You either want to cover kids or you don't."
(snip)

(snip) The state Health and Human Services Commission predicts that more than 158,000 children will drop from CHIP rolls between now and the end of 2005 because of policies established by the Legislature this year. (snip)

(snip) Also, CHIP vision and dental benefits are being eliminated, and the state is drastically cutting psychiatric benefits. (snip/...)

http://www.caller.com/ccct/state_texas_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_876_2207863,00.html

The CHIP program has been discouraged in Texas:

During the qualifying process, it's discovered that some parents don't make enough money. That is, the kids are eligible for Medicaid.

Therefore, the State would be out even more $$$$$!!!

(Thanks, George.)

Or, let's just put it this way:

REPUBLICANS' HEALTH CARE POLICY:
DON'T GET SICK!

,

Proveing ONCE agian that the GOP could care less about anyone who makes under $50 grand, the Texas GOP worry more about how to carve up districts for greater power than a child who needs medical attention in the great state of texas.. The GOP's plan all along is how to make the privlaged the only ones with good health sevices.
It galls me how these people would rather see a child or a person starve or die from lack of medical care than to do the right thing for all americans..

I guess children take last place to the fiscal conservatives.

I ask you, what could be more KKKristian????

:dem: